Bottle closure



July 26,1927. I 1,636,996

W. HASKELL, JR

BOTTLE CLOSURE Filed April l. 1924 2 Sheets-Sheet l July 26, 1927.

w. E. HASKELL, JR

. BOTTLE CLOSURE Emma-11hr.

Patented July 26, 1927.

UNITED STATES A 1,636,996 PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM EDWARD HASKELL, JR., OF SPRINGFIELD, MASSACHUSETTS.

BOTTLE CLOSURE.

" parts comprising the same will be understood from the hereinafter contained detail description, when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, forming part hereof, and illustrating embodiments of the invention.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevation with parts shown in section, of a bottle closure constructed in accordance with the present invention, the closure being shown applied to a conventional form of milk bottle.

Fig. 2 is a detail side elevation of the closure, the skirt portion being shown expanded.

Fig. 3 is an inverted plan view of the closure with the skirt portion expanded as illustrated in Figure 2.

Fige is an inverted plan view of the closure with the skirt portion in normal contracted position.

Fig. 1 is a detail view of a portion of the closure showing parts of the ring in overlapped relation.

Fig. 5 is a detail view, on an enlarged scale, through a lower part of the skirt portion of the closure.

Fig. 6 is a view. of the blank from which the closure is made.

Fig. 7 is a detail inverted plan view of a portion of the closure.

Fig. 8 is a side elevation of a modified construction, the skirt portion of the closure being shown ,in normalcontracted position.

Fig. .9 isa similar view, the skirt-portion of the closure being expanded.

' Fig. 10 is an inverted top plan view, the skirt portion of the closure being in normal contracted condition.

Fig. 11 is an ,inverted plan view, the skirt portion of the closurebeingexpanded.

Application filed April 1, 1924. Serial No. 703,462.

Fig. 12 isa side elevation of the closure applied to a conventional form of milk bottle.

Fig. 13 is a detail view, on an enlarged scale, of a part of the skirt portion of the closure. i-

Fig. 14 is a detail view of the blank from which the closure is made.

Fig. 15 is a detail view, on an enlarged scale, of a part of the closure.

The invention comprehends bottle closure of flexible material comprising a top part to ht over the top of a bottle and a depending flange or extended skirt portion adapted to conform to and closely fit about the mouth and upperneck portion of a bottle and having a pleat or pleats providing for the expansion of saidfiange or skirt portion in its application to and removal from the bottle in combination with elastic means secured to the flangeor skirt portion and acting to yieldably maintain said pleat or pleats closed or togetherand the flange or skirt portion contracted. i

In the drawings, the invention is shown applied to a conventional form of milk contamer A provided with a thickened mouth portion (1!, having its outer face rounded, as shown, and merging into the narrow neck portion a of the bottle. 7) designates the conventional cap fitting into the mouth oi: the bottle and resting against an interior shoulder a Referring to a detail description of the particular embodiment of the invention illlustrated Figures 1 to 7 of the drawings, the construction shown comprises a top part 1 to fit over the top of a. bottle, and a restricted dependinmflange or extended skirt portion 2 to fit closely about the mouth and adjoining upper neck portion of the bottle, as shown, the restricted flange or neck portion 2 being of a diameter less than that of the greatest diameter of the thickened portion a of the bottle. In the particular construction shown in Figures 1 to 7 of the drawings, the depending flange or skirt portion 2 is provided with a plurality of folds or pleats 3 arranged in pairs with the pleats of each pair folding toward each other, the closure being formed from a continuous piece of material or blank, illustrated. in Figure6, and folded as illustrated in Figure7 of the drawings. On thelowermarginalportion of the depending flange or pleated skirt portion .2, is a I split spring ring member 4:, said split spring ring 111(31'11 her being secured to the pleated skirt por tion 2 so. that the majoritynof the pleats thereof are permanently held closed, and

some of the pleatsZ-E are left free and yield ably held closed or together by said member i, the pleat or pleats that are left free providing for the suflicient expansion. of-

the depending flange or skirt portion 2 to readily slip over the thickened mouth portion a of the bottle. In this particular exemplification of the invention, onset the pleats or folds 3 are permanentlysecured in siliency circumferentially thereof and also permit of the side walls 4 of said member 4 being pressed into and to remain in tight fitting clamping engagement with the marginal part of the depending flange or pleat-ed skirt portion 2, the split spring ring member 4 being applied to the depending flange or pleated skirt portion 2 so that the marginal part of the major portion of the pleated skirt portion 2 including all of the pleats 3 excepting two thereof being tightly clamped within the channel of the split spring ring member 4, the side walls' l of said member 4 being pressed toward each other to tightly clamp and firmly secure thoband in pla eon the depending flange: or skirt portion 2 and to permanently secure all of the pleats 3 excepting two of the pleats tightly folded or closed. The split spring ring men'ibcr 4 is provided with free endfportions or extensions 41; 4 adapted to overlap each other and the folds or intermediate part'of the skirt portion that is left free, said extensions P-l bridging the intermediate free part of the depending flange or skirt portion 2 when the latter is contracted, serving to press against and yieldabiy maintain said intermediate free part ofthe skirt porti on 2 against outwardbending or puckering, and lending a finished appearance to the closure, see particularly Figures 1 and 4 of the drawings.

The closure is constructed of any suitable flexible material, preferably paper or the like, from, a continuous piece or blank as illustrated Figure 6 of the drawings, and is preferably provided with a coating or otherwise treated with paratiin or the like to make the same moisture proof.

As will he understood, the closure is adapted to be applied by engaging the lower end of the depending flange or skirt portion 2 with the upper part of the thickened portions of the bottle,-wlien, by a downward pressure the skirt portion 2 will be expanded and will elipover the thickened portion o of the bottle, the skirt portion '2 portion of the bottle Referring to the modified construction ildust-rated in Figures 8 to 15 of the drawings, 5 designates the top part of the closure, 6 the dependingflang-e or skirt portion, and 7 the split spring ring member. In this modified construction, the depending flange or skirt portion 6 is shown of greaterlength to extend further down over the neck ofdition, as illustrated in Figures 8 and 10 ot' the drawings, overlaps. the pleat ofthe skirt portion 6 that is left free and serves to yieldably hold the same down smooth or foldedeas illustrated. i

It will be noted that the particular construction of bottle closure hereinbefore described, is of a simple inexpensivenature,

that itatfords a. complete covering forthe mouth of the bottle and will prevent the accumulation of foreign matter around the mouth'of the bottle-and that the same can be quickly and easily applied and removed from the bottlewithout a tool, the depend ing flange or skirt portion always presenting a continuous closed wall both. in its contracted and expanded conditions.

WVhile specific embodiments of the invention are illustrated in the drawingsv it will of. eoursebe understood that changes and variations in the particular constructions shown, and the carrying out of the invention in other forms, as will appeal. to those skilledv in the art and falling within the scope-of the appended claims, may bepracticed without departing from the spirit of 2. A bottle closure of flexible material,

comprising a top part and a depending flange or skirt portion, the skirt portion of the closure having a pleat thereni providing tor expanding the same, and resilient means fixedly secured to the material of the skirt portion at either side of said pleat and acting to yieldably maintain said pleat closed.

3. A bottle closure of flexible material, comprising a top part and a depending flange or skirt portion, the skirt portion having a pleat therein providing for expanding the same, and a split spring ring member extending about and fixedly secured to the material oi the skirt portion at either side of said pleat with its end portions located adjacent the pleat, said spring ring member acting to yieldably maintain the pleat closed.

4-. A bottle closure of flexible material comprising a top part and a restricted depending flange or skirt portion, said skirt portion having a plurality of pleats therein, and resilient means secured to said skirt portion permanently securingthe majority of the pleats closed, and yieldably maintaining the remaining pleat or pleats closed to provide for expansion 01 the skirt portion.

5. A bottle closure of flexible material comprising a top part and a depending flange or skirt portion, said depending flange or skirt portion having a plurality of pleats therein, a split resilient metal band secured to said skirt portion securing some of the pleats of the skirt portion permanently closed and acting to yieldably maintain the other pleat or pleats closed.

6. A bottle closure oi flexible material comprising a. 'top part and a depending flange or skirt portion, said skirt portion having a pleat therein providing for expanding the same, and a split spring ring member on the skirt portion acting to yieldably maintain the pleat closed, said spring" ring member extending about and being fixedly secured to the material of the skirt portion at either side of said pleat with its end portions located adjacent the pleat, and said ring member having a free end portion overlapping the pleat.

7. A bottle closure of flexible material comprising a top part and a depending skirt portion formed with a plurality of pleats, and a split spring ring member on said skirt portion permanently securing the majority of the pleats closed and yieldably maintaining the remaining pleat or pleats closed to provide for expansion of the skirt portion, said ring member being of channel tormation and the marginal edge of the skirt portion including the majority of the pleats thereof being tightly clamped Within the channel of the ring member between the sides thereof.

8. A bottle closure of flexible material comprising a top part and a depending skirt portion formed With a plurality of pleats, and a split spring ring member on said skirt portion permanently securing the majority of the pleats closed and yieldably maintaining the remaining pleat or pleats closed to provide for expansion of the skirt portion, said ring member being of channel formation and the marginal edge of the skirt portion including the majority ot the pleats thereof being tightly clamped within the channel of the ring member between the sides thereof, and said ring member having a free end portion overlapping the other free intervening part of the skirt portion.

9. A bottle closure made from a continuous piece of flexible material comprising a top part and a depending skirt portion, the skirt portion being formed by folding the material upon itself to form pairs of pleats. thereabout, the pleats of each pair overlapping the material in opposite directions, and a split resilient ring member secured to said skirt portion securing some of the pleats of the skirt portion permanently closed, and acting to yield-ably maintain the other pleat or pleats closed.

10. A bottle closure made of a continuous piece or flexible material comprising a top part and a depending skirt portion, the skirt portion being formed by folding the matcrial upon itself to form pairs 01'' pleats thereabout, the pleats of each pair "folding toward each other, and a resilient split ring member secured to said skirt portion securing all oi the pleats of the skirt portion except one pair of pleats permanently closed, and acting to yieldably maintain the other pair of pleats closed.

11. A bottle closure of flexible material. comprising a top part and a depending skirt portion formed of a plurality of pleats, and a resilient split ring member secured to the skirt portion about the major part thereof to secure the majority of the pleats closed and acting to yieldably maintain the other pleat or leats closed, said ring member having a tree end portion overlapping the remaining t'ree intervening part of said skirt portion.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aflix my signature.

WILLIAM EDWARD HASKELL, JR.

ill 

